Committees (44th Parliament, 1st Session)

CANADA'S NUCLEAR REACTORS: HOW MUCH SAFETY IS ENOUGH?

Interim Report

Witnesses

NAME OF ORGANIZATION AND/OR WITNESS	ISSUE NUMBER	DATE OF APPEARANCE
Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) Cait Maloney, Director, External Relations and Documents Division; Jim Harvie, Director General, Reactor Regulation; Michael Taylor, Deputy Director General, Reactor Regulation; Richard Ferch, Director, Wastes and Decommissioning Division; Rod Utting, Director Radiation and Environmental Protection Division.	4	February 24, 2000
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) David Torgerson, Vice-President, Research and Product Development; Victor Snell, Nuclear Safety and Licensing.	3	February 22, 2000
Energy Probe Normand Rubin, Director of Nuclear Research, Senior Policy Analyst.	5	February 29, 2000
International Institute of Concern for Public Health Dr. Rosalie Bertell, President	22	September 21, 2000
Natural Resources Canada Ric Cameron, Assistant Deputy Minister, Energy Sector; Peter Brown, Director, Uranium and Radioactive Waste Division, Energy Sector; Dave McCauley, Advisor, Uranium and Radioactive Waste Division, Energy Sector; Jacques Hénault, Analyst, Uranium and Radioactive Waste Division, Energy Sector.	12	June 1^st, 2000
Nuclear Awareness Project Irene Kock, Executive Director	8	May 2^nd, 2000
Nuclear Insurance Association of Canada Steve Hammond, Chairman; Dermot Murphy, Manager.	10	May 11, 2000
Ontario Power Generation Ron Osborne, President and Chief Executive Officer; Gene Preston, Executive Vice-President and Chief Nuclear Officer; Pierre Charlebois, Senior Vice-President, Technical Services and Chief Nuclear Engineer; Richard Dicerni, Executive Vice-President and Corporate Secretary; Kurt Johansen, Senior Manager of Environmental Assessments.	24	October 19, 2000
Ontario Power Generation Carl Andognini, Special Nuclear Advisor to the President; Richard Dicerni, Executive Vice-President and Corporate Secretary.	7	April 13, 2000
Power Workers' Union John Murphy, President; Terry Pigeau, Vice-President; Peter Falconer, Chair of the PWU Health, Safety and Environment Committee; Jim Beggs, Sector 1 Board Member, Darlington Nuclear Station; Dennis Fry, Sector 1 Board Member, Bruce Nuclear Station; Charlie Gill, Sector 1 Board Member, Pickering Nuclear Station.	8	May 2^nd, 2000
Regional Municipality of Durham, Health Department Robert Kyle, Medical Officer of Health; Donna Reynolds, Associate Medical Officer of Health; Mary-Anne Pietrusiak, Epidemiologist; Larry O'Connor, Chair, Health and Social Services Committee.	11	May 30, 2000

APPENDIX B

Fact-finding mission to Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia (October 9 – October 14, 2000)

Environmental Protection Agency	John Beale, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, EPA; Patricia Koshel, Director, Western Hemisphere and Bilateral Affairs Office, EPA;
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)	James T. Rhodes, President and Chief Executive President; Sig Birg, INPO Executive Vice-President; Ed Hux, Director, Plant Operations Division.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	Greta Joy Dicus, Acting Chairman; Jeffrey S. Merrifield, Commissioner; Edward McGaffigan, Commissioner.
Union of Concerned Scientists	Dave Lochbaum, Nuclear Safety Engineer.
World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO)	William R. Kindley, Director; Jim Miller, Legal Counsel.

NOTES

^{The Vienna
Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Paris Convention on Third Party
Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy.}
^{David Torgerson, Vice President, Research and Product
Development, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Standing Senate Committee on Energy,
Environment and Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 3, p.
3:8, 22 February 2000.}
^{OPG came into existence on 1 April 1999. Before that
time Ontario Hydro operated the nuclear reactors in the province. The two names will be
used interchangeably depending on the date of the information being referenced.}
^{Report of the Select Committee on Ontario Hydro Nuclear
Affairs, December 1997}
^{Ontario Hydro, Report to Management, Independent
Integrated Performance Appraisal(IIPA)/Safety System Functional Investigation (SSFI)
Evaluation Findings and Recommendations, 21 July 1997 (hereafter cited as IIPA)}
^{"Meltdown", Maclean’s Magazine,
Special Report, 25 August 1997, p.14}
^{The name of the AECB was changed to the Canadian
Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on 30 May 2000. References will use the name in use at
the time the documents being cited were prepared.}
^{"Nuclear Option is Dead", Ottawa Citizen,
A1, 14 August 1997}
^{Report of the Select Committee on Ontario Hydro Nuclear
Affairs, December 1997}
^{The Committee notes with interest that in December
2000, the Auditor General reviewed the regulatory activities of the CNSC related to
licensing and regulating power reactors. He made a number of recommendations for improving
practices of the CNSC in these areas. Details can be found in : Report of the Auditor
General of Canada to the House of Commons, Chapter 27, Canadian Nuclear Safety
Commission – Power Reactor Regulation, December 2000.}
^{"British Energy to Run Ontario Power’s Bruce
Plants", The Globe and Mail, B1, 12 July 2000}
^{"Bruce Power Applies for Operating Licences",
Nuclear Canada, Volume 1, No. 11, 1 December 2000, p.1}
^{Jim Harvie, Director General, Reactor Regulation,
Atomic Energy Control Board, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment
and Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 4-, p.4:7, 24 February
2000}
Ibid, p.4:15
^{Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, 1999 Annual
Report, Atlanta, Georgia, p. 14}
^{To put this huge number into some context, if this
total release were evenly diluted in the total volume of water in Lake Ontario (without
suggesting that this is what would happen), it would add roughly 2 becquerels/litre of
radiation. The Ontario Drinking Water Standard is currently 7000 becquerels/litre.}
^{Carl Andognini, Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceeding and Evidence, Issue #
7, p. 7:6-7:7, 13 April 2000}
Ibid.
^{IIPA (1997), p. 2}
^{IIPA (1997), p.6}
^{Andognini, p. 7:8}
^{Victor Snell, Director, Nuclear Safety and Licensing,
Atomic Energy of Canada, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural
Resources, Minutes of Proceeding and Evidence, Issue #3, p. 3:16, 22 February,
2000}
^{Andognini, p. 7:5}
Snell, p.3:13
^{Thompson, p.7}
Ibid.
^{Torgerson, p. 3:30}
Ibid.
^{Pickering East Shore Community Association, at
informal meeting with the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural
Resources, Pickering, 4 April 2000}
^{Dr. Gordon Thompson, an engineer and Doctor of
Philosophy (DPhil) in applied mathematics, is the Executive Director of the IRSS. He has
extensive experience in assessing the hazards associated with nuclear facilities and in
identifying alternative designs and modes of operation that can reduce a facility’s
hazard potential. Dr. Thompson has also worked on a range of other subjects related to
energy, environment and international security.}
^{G. Thompson, A Review of the Accident Risk Posed by
the Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station, A Report to the Standing Senate Committee
on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, August 2000}
^{Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Pickering A Return
to Service: Environmental Assessment, October 1999, Issue 2, p.1}
^{OPG, Pickering A Return to Service: Environmental
Assessment, Newsletter, Issue 3, November/December 1999, p. 3.}
^{Thompson, p..9}
^{J. Harvie, Director General, Reactor Regulation,
Atomic Energy Control Board, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and
Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 4, p. 4:28, 24 February
2000}
^{Durham Nuclear Awareness, Comments to the Canadian
Nuclear Safety Commission on the Draft Screening Report on the Pickering A Nuclear Station
Restart Proposal, 4 July 2000}
^{Atomic Energy Control Board, Board Management
Decision 93-07, 5 January 1993, Appendix A}
^{Bob Strickert, Vice-President for Pickering A, meeting
with OPG officials at Pickering plant site, 5 April 2000}
^{Harvie, p. 4:28}
^{Carl Andognini, Special Nuclear Advisor to the
President, Ontario Power Generation, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment
and Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 7, p. 7:24, 13
April 2000,}
^{Strickert, 5 April 2000}
Thompson, p. 11
^{Kock, p.8:6}
^{Thompson (2000), p.28}
Peter Small, "Quake gives eastern GTA a gentle wake-up call", The Toronto Star, 5 May 25
^{Tom Blackwell, " Toronto shakes, rattles in
quake", The Edmonton Journal, 25 May 2000}
^{Atomic Energy Control Board, AECB workshop on
Seismic Hazard Assessment in Southern Ontario – Recorded Proceedings, Ottawa,
Ontario, 19-21 June 1995, p.11}
Ibid., p. 71
^{Arsalan Mohajer, Associate Professor of Geophysics,
Environmental Sciences, Physical Sciences Division, University of Toronto, Standing
Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Minutes of Proceedings and
Evidence, Issue # 11, p. 11:20, 30 May 2000}
^Ibid.
^{Ibid., p. 11:21}
^{Ibid. p. 11:22}
^{Ontario Power Generation - Nuclear, Seismic Hazard
and Seismic Design Issues at OPGI Nuclear Power Stations, July 2000}
^{Ibid. p. 14}
^{Ibid, p.16}
^{R.L. Brown, G.M. Atkinson and A. Dreimanis, Rouge
River Expert Advisory Panel Summary Report, September, 2000, p.6}
^{Electric Power Research Institute, NP-6041, A
Methodology for Assessment of Nuclear Power Plant Seismic Margin, October, 1988}
^{Thompson, p. 16}
^Ibid.
^{OPG - Nuclear, July 2000, p. 3}
^{Ibid., p. 4}
Kock, Informal meeting in Pickering, 4 April 2000
^{Acres International, Seismic Assessment of Systems
and Components at Pickering A, , Prepared for Atomic Energy Control Board, 11 January
1999}
Durham Nuclear Awareness (4 July 2000), p.13
^{Thompson (2000), p.21}
^{Ibid. p. 18}
^{IIPA, p. 34}
^{Thompson, p.19}
Thompson p. 19
^{Ibid., p.13}
^{Ibid. p.13}
^{Ibid. p.14}
C.B. Parsons (AECB), letter sent to R.J. Strickert (Ontario Hydro), transmitting undated document AECB Review of Pickering A Risk Assessment: Conclusions From the Review, (As cited in Thompson (2000), p.18)
Thompson (2000), p.18
^{Ibid, p. 32}
^{Ibid, p.27}
^Ibid.
^{Atomic Energy Control Board, Radiation and Health
Effects, presented to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural
Resources, 24 February 2000.}
^{Ibid, p.3}
^{Atomic Energy Control Board, as cited in Ontario
Power Generation, "Pilot Cancer Study", Neighbours – News from
Pickering Nuclear, Volume 6, Number 1, Winter 2000, p.4}
^{Dr. Philippe Duport, Director, International
Centre for Low Dose Radiation Research, University of Ottawa, Letter to the
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, 20 October 2000.}
^{Durham Region Health Department, Radiation and Health
in Durham Region, November 1996, p. A-7}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Port Hope
Cancer Incidence Study Released, Press Release, 22 August 2000}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, p. 11:15 - 16}
Kock, p. 8:7
^{Dr. David Hoel, Affidavit in Federal Court of
Canada, Trial Division Between Inverhuron and District Ratepayers Association (Applicant)
and The Minister of the Environment, the AECB, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and
Ontario Power Generation (Respondents), File # T-906-99, 9 December 1999}
^Ibid.
^{Dr. Rosalie Bertell, Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue
# 22, p.22:5 - 6, 21 September 2000}
^Ibid.
^Ibid.
^{Norman Rubin, Senior Policy Analyst, Energy Probe,
Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Minutes of
Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 5, p. 5:12, 29 February 2000.}
^{IIPA (1997), p.5}
^{Ibid. p.11}
^{Ibid. p.10}
^{Bob Strickert, Senate Committee Visit to Pickering
Nuclear: Nuclear Basics, Nuclear Safety and Performance Results, 5 April 2000}
^Ibid.
^{Ron Osborne, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Ontario Power Generation, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and
Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 24, p.24:7, 19
October 2000}
^Ibid.
John Murphy, Past President, Power Workers Union, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 8, p.8:19, 2 May 2000
^{Don MacKinnon, President, Power Workers Union, letter
to Clerk of Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, 8
November 2000}
^{Don MacKinnon, President, Power Workers Union, letter
to Clerk of Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, 8
November 2000}
^Ibid.
^{Government of Canada, Canadian National Report for
the Convention on Nuclear Safety, September 1998, p. 49}
^{R. Cameron, Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural
Resources Canada, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural
Resources, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 12, p.12:10, 1 June 2000}
^{Dermot Murphy, Manager, Nuclear Insurance Association
of Canada, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Minutes
of Proceedings and Evidence, Issue # 10, p.10:7, 11 May 2000}
^{Cameron, p.12:7-8}
Ibid., p.12:8
^{Jacques Henault, Natural Ressources Canada, Telephone
conversation, 3 April 2001}
^{The Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear
Damage and the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy.}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Staff Report to
Commission Members on the Pickering NGS-A Environmental Assessment, Document
26-1-4-15-1, 5 September 2000}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Record of
Proceedings, including Reasons for Decisions In the Matter of Environmental Assessment
under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act of the Proposed Return to Service of the
Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station, 16 February 2001}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, News Release, CNSC
Announces Decisions on Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering Facilities, 30 March
2001}
^{Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Canadian
Environmental Assessment Agency Comprehensive Study List Regulations – Legal Text, at
www.ceaa.gc.ca/0011/10004/sor94-638.txt}
^{Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Completed
Comprehensive Studies, at www.ceaa.gc.ca/0009/0003/completed_e.htm}
^{Gene Preston, Vice-President-Nuclear, Ontario Power
Generation, discussions during Pickering site visit, 5 April 2000.}
^{Dr. N. Eyles et al, Peer Review Team Comments on
Pickering A Return to Service Environmental Assessment: Preliminary Draft Report, Prepared
for Corporation of the City of Pickering, December 1999}
^{Kock, p.8:5}
^{Kurt Johansen, Senior Manager, Environmental
Assessments, Ontario Power Generation, Committee Site Visit,5 April 2000}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (5 September 2000)}
^{Kock, p.8:6}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (5 September 2000)}
^{Kock, p.8:8}
^{Irene Kock, Nuclear Awareness Project, E-mail to
Bernard Richard, AECB Program Management and Review Section, 25 February 2000}
^{Bernard Richard, AECB Program Management and Review
Section, Letter to Irene Kock, Durham Nuclear Awareness, 13 March 2000}
^{Osborne, p. 24:3}
^{R. J. Strickert, Site Vice President, Pickering
‘A’ Nuclear, Letter to Senator Mira Spivak, Chairman,Standing Senate
Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, 11 May 2000}
^{Osborne, p. 24:4}
^{Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (5 September 2000)}
^{Osborne, p. 24:20}
^{J.D. Harvie, Director General, Atomic Energy Control
Board, Letter to Senator Mira Spivak, Chairman, Standing Senate Committee on Energy,
Environment and Natural Resources, 28 March 2000}
As cited in Irene Kock, Letter to Mayor Arthurs and Councillors, City of Pickering, 13 April 2000